Targeted Risk (R.I.S.C. #7) - Anna Blakely Page 0,32

bars.”

Goddamnit. “I need another angle. Some way to take them down that doesn’t involve Juliet testifying.”

“You have one in mind?”

Mike squeezed his eyes shut, let out a controlled breath, and opened his eyes again. “Is the report on Jay Reynolds still in place?”

“Of course, it is. We keep all alias backgrounds active as a precaution in case we need to use them again, later.”

“So if someone were to run a background on Reynolds...”

“They’d see exactly what we want them to see.”

“Which is?”

“Jay Reynolds was a known associate of the Volkov crew but ultimately served two years for his part in connection to a Detroit homicide that took place a few years prior. Why?” When Mike didn’t answer right away, Lopez cursed beneath his breath. “You’re thinking about going straight to Volkov yourself, aren’t you?”

“Why not?” Mike shrugged. “He used to trust me.”

“A lot of shit’s gone down since then. What makes you think he’ll see you now, after all this time?

“I killed his man. I can use that as an excuse to meet with him. With any luck, Volkov will let something slip about what he has planned going forward.”

“Are you even listening to yourself? That dipshit, Schreiber, tried taking out this guy’s daughter. Presumably under Volkov’s orders. Alexandar knows of your previous relationship with Juliet, and with you conveniently back in the picture, he’ll either think you’re working to build a case against him or that you’re there to extract revenge for what happened to Juliet. Either way, the bastard could easily put a bullet in your brain the second he sees you.”

“Maybe. But I don’t think he will.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“I’m not his target.”

As unbelievable as it seemed, Alexandar Volkov lived by a code. He didn’t mess with someone unless he had a good reason to. Up to now, Jay Reynolds had never given Volkov a reason to come after him.

Lopez waited a beat before asking, “What’s Juliet gonna say when you tell her you went to meet with dear old daddy?”

This next part of his plan would be the tricky. “She doesn’t need to know.”

The other man barked out a short laugh. “How in Christ’s name do you plan on going to Vegas and back to confront her father without her knowing?”

“Let me worry about that.”

“What you should be worried about is getting as much intel from that woman as you can. We need names, Mike. People she’s talked to. People who were involved in whatever she witnessed back then. If she can give us that, then maybe...shit, I don’t know. Maybe she wouldn’t have to testify, after all.”

“Either way, Volkov will end up tracing that shit back to his daughter, Ben. Don’t you get it? I’m the reason she’s in this mess to begin with.” Mike reminded the CIA agent. “If I hadn’t dragged her into my investigation two years ago, she never would’ve been put in the position to testify in the first place.”

“You were just doing your job.”

“Fuck the job, and fuck you. I’ll figure out some way to get to Volkov, but I’m not using Juliet to do it. Not again.”

Never again.

Another stretch of silence passed before Lopez spoke again. “You sure you want to put yourself back on Volkov’s radar?”

“I’ll do what it takes to ensure Juliet’s safety.” Even if it meant putting himself in danger.

“I don’t like it,” Lopez grumbled.

“You don’t have to like it,” Mike snapped back. “You just have to make sure my cover is airtight.”

“Damn it, Mike. This would be a lot better for you if you’d just—”

“I’m not using her to get to her father, Ben.”

Lopez blew out a breath. “Fine. Make contact with Volkov. I’ll have you covered on this end.”

“Thanks.”

“But Mike?”

“Yeah?”

“Watch your back, man.”

It wasn’t his back he was worried about. “I’ll be in touch.”

Not waiting for a response, Mike ended the call. He then shot off a group text to Jake and Derek.

After giving his friends the condensed version of this newest development and what he needed from them, he headed back inside the house. Being careful not to wake her, Mike climbed into bed, sliding across the mattress until his body was flush with Juliet’s.

Wrapping his arms around her tiny waist, he spent the rest of the night holding her close and praying that what he had planned would work. If it didn’t, he knew exactly how their story would end.

I can’t let that happen. Not to her.

No, this would work. It had to. Because for Mike, anything less than a happily